In this review of Hellhunters #4, it’s all-out action against the horrendous hordes of Hades in the middle of war-torn Europe. But, what’s that in the distance? Can you say Ghost Rider ’44 and his ‘Hellfire Tank’?
HELLHUNTERS #4
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Artist: Adam Gorham
Main Cover: Jonas Scharf
Variant Cover: Rod Reis
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: February 26, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Hellhunters #4 picks up directly after last issue with Ghost Rider ’44 (Sal Romero) and Bucky Barnes riding into battle against a horrifying hell beast made up of dead Nazis. Soldier Supreme (Sebastian Szardos) gives the Hellhunter’s conventional weapons a magic-infused upgrade, but it’s not until Ghost Rider ’44 puts the hellfire whammy on an abandoned US Army tank that the creature finally goes down.
Soldier Supreme uses the Eye of Agamotto (squee) to cast a viewing spell that shows the Allied Forces under attack by former Nazi-turned–demon Felix Bruckner and his army of the undead. The Allies are also trapped in a rapidly expanding snowstorm that is the physical manifestation of Bruckner’s growing power.
After viewing the carnage, Romero is itching to get back on the road and take out Bruckner, but Szardos objects. Enraged, Romero transforms into Ghost Rider ’44 while he ‘force-chokes’ Szardos. Ghost Rider ’44 suddenly vanishes in a flash of hellfire and is replaced by the ‘archangel of vengeance’ himself, Zarathos, the demon that saved Romero after his first encounter with Bruckner.
Zarathos warns the other Hellhunters that Bruckner is possessed by the unhallowed demon called Calphael, who wants to make hell on earth a reality. Zarathos gives the team specially designed weapons (as long as they pledge to destroy all of the unhallowed). The entire team accepts his offer including Szardos.
Hellhunters #4 ends with the heavily armed team joining the fray against legions of unhallowed in the middle of the widening snowpocalypse.
Analysis
Zarathos says hello!
In Hellhunters #4, Marvel Comics easter eggs abound (no spoilers here), as the series races towards its epic conclusion. Remarkably, the inclusion of these items actually enhances this wild hellfire-fueled fever dream of a story rather than creating a stumbling block of continuity errors (as opposed to the cover of issue #1).
Writer Phillip K. Johnson ratchets up the action a notch, and raises the stakes considerably more. The supernatural battle being fought in tandem with the real world Allied efforts during World War II has expanded beyond a simple demon grudge match, as the supernatural theater of war now threatens all of existence. Johnson’s snappy dialogue also works to help move the story along.
Bucky’s morbid proclivities are still present in Hellhunters #4, after he tries to collect another gruesome trophy from the vanquished hell beast. Not sure if there will be any kind of revelation/resolution for Bucky’s macabre behavior by the end of next issue or if we’re just supposed to chalk it up to the effects of war trauma on a teenage soldier.
My major gripe with this issue is that while Johnson has again included Peggy Carter as part of the team, she still has very little to do or say of consequence. In contrast, Bucky gets a major focus in both Hellhunters #3 and Hellhunters #4, and Bruckner’s demonic presence is felt throughout the series. What’s the point of having her on the team if she isn’t contributing in any meaningful way? Give Peggy Carter her moment.
Adam Gorham’s art continues to impress with epic (and gory) action sequences, expressive faces and horrifying hordes of the undead racing across the frozen battlefield or soaring through blackening skies.
Colorist Frank Martin adds to the drama, suspense and emotion of the story by enhancing different sequences in specific color themes: any scenes with demons (including Zarathos) are bathed in pale blue, while Zarathos’ hellfire is depicted in brilliant red and orange, and the Sorcerer Supreme’s magic fills the panels with soft hues of lavender and magenta.
Final thoughts
Overall, Hellhunters #4 is another rip-roaring installment of an amazing series, it’s just disappointing that such an integral team member isn’t being given her due.
